Polyhydroxyalkanoate production methods and materials and microorganisms used in same

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention relate generally to methods to generate microorganisms and/or microorganism cultures that exhibit the ability to produce polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) from carbon sources at high efficiencies. In several embodiments, preferential expression of, or preferential growth of microorganisms utilizing certain metabolic pathways, enables the high efficiency PHA production from carbon-containing gases or materials. Several embodiments relate to the microorganism cultures, and/or microorganisms isolated therefrom.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for modifying a functional characteristic of a polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) material, the method comprising:
 providing a PHA comprising carbon and a biomass comprising carbon derived from one or more carbon-containing gasses; 
 subjecting the PHA and/or the biomass to a processing step in order to render the at least a portion of the biomass miscible with the PHA; 
 combining the PHA and the biomass in a mixture to form a compound, wherein the ratio of the biomass to the PHA in said PHA is between 1:1000 and 1000:1; 
 heating the compound to between 40 degrees Celsius and 200 degrees Celsius; and 
 causing, in response to the heating, the biomass to effect a functional modification of a first polymer and a second polymer of the PHA, wherein the functional modification comprises an increase in plasticization, nucleation, compatibilization, melt flow modification, strengthening, reduction of PHA crystallinity or rate of crystallization, increase in optical clarity, and/or elasticization. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising pressurizing the compound to between 1 atmosphere and 350 atmospheres. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising treating the PHA and/or the biomass with one or more of treatments selected from a group consisting of: heat, shear, pressure, solvent extraction, washing, filtration, centrifugation, sonication, enzymatic treatment, super critical material treatment, cellular dissolution, flocculation, acid and/or base treatment, drying, lysing, and chemical treatment. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a medium comprising the biomass capable of metabolizing a source of carbon. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the biomass comprises one or more of methanotrophic, autotrophic, and heterotrophic biomass. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the biomass is present in the compound at a concentration of more than about 0.001%. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first polymer is PHB, PHBV, PHHX, PHO, or other PHA polymer and the second polymer is a type of polyolefin. 
     
     
       8. A method for modifying a functional characteristic of a polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) material, the method comprising:
 providing a PHA comprising carbon and a biomass comprising carbon derived from one or more carbon-containing gasses; 
 subjecting the PHA and/or the biomass to a processing step in order to render the at least a portion of the biomass miscible with the PHA; 
 combining the PHA and the biomass in a mixture to form a compound, wherein the ratio of the biomass to the PHA in said PHA is between 1:1000 and 1000:1; 
 heating the compound to between 40 degrees Celsius and 200 degrees Celsius; and 
 causing, in response to the heating, the biomass to effect a functional modification of a first polymer and a second polymer of the PHA, wherein the functional modification comprises an increase in nucleation and/or reduction of PHA crystallinity or rate of crystallization. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising pressurizing the compound to between 1 atmosphere and 350 atmospheres. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising treating the PHA and/or the biomass with one or more of treatments selected from a group consisting of: heat, shear, pressure, solvent extraction, washing, filtration, centrifugation, sonication, enzymatic treatment, super critical material treatment, cellular dissolution, flocculation, acid and/or base treatment, drying, lysing, and chemical treatment. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising providing a medium comprising the biomass capable of metabolizing a source of carbon. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the biomass comprises one or more of methanotrophic, autotrophic, and heterotrophic biomass. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the biomass is present in the compound at a concentration of more than about 0.001%. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first polymer is PHB, PHBV, PHHX, PHO, or other PHA polymer and the second polymer is a type of polyolefin.